QUETTA - Gunmen on Sunday abducted five officials of Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) near the Surange coalfield, some 35 kilometres away from the provincial capital. Levies Force officials confirmed the incident, saying that a group of armed people stormed the residential quarters in PMDC Colony and kidnapped five officials in Hanna Levies limits. The abductees were identified as Project Manager Mukhtiar Ali Junejo, Abdul Majeed, Tanvir Hassan, Kamran and Abid. The abductors drove them to mountains, they added. Officials in Quetta said a team was sent to the area to investigate the incident and secure the release of kidnapped officials. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from Quetta Commissioner Naseem Lehri. He directed the provincial home secretary, IGP and commissioner to step up efforts for securing the release of abductees. Meanwhile, the defunct Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the abduction of PMDC officials. Meerak Baloch, a spokesperson for BLA, said by phone from undisclosed location that the abduction was a reaction to the search operation launched by the security forces in Chamalang.